Chapter 22 Summary

Chapter twenty-two describes the bliss and happy meditations that followed the hitch-hiking departure of Ron Blake when Kerouac finally spoke aloud his need to rest and be alone. Rehydrated and alone in his natural haven, he remembers a childhood suspicion he once had in daydreams and wonders if it is the case now. He had dreamed that everyone around him is in on the scheme of trying to drive him mad. He wondered as a child whether everyone might all be devils waiting for him to discover that he is the last Jesus. He confesses the ease of growing his childhood suspicion into that adult, alcohol-soaked episode, all completely behind him now that he is alone and feeling healthy.

Now, he basks again in his natural world, feeding the animals and watching their comedies, gathering wood, reading and dreaming about soldiers turned lovers...